{"id":312292,"date":"2025-09-02T15:55:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T13:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2025\/09\/from-ventimiglia-to-tende-a-journey-aboard-a-historic-train-in-the-heart-of-the-roya-valley\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T15:57:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T13:57:13","slug":"from-ventimiglia-to-tende-a-journey-aboard-a-historic-train-in-the-heart-of-the-roya-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2025\/09\/from-ventimiglia-to-tende-a-journey-aboard-a-historic-train-in-the-heart-of-the-roya-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"From Ventimiglia to Tende: a journey aboard a historic train in the heart of the Roya Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Landscapes, heritage, gastronomy and activities\u2026 The editorial team hopped aboard the historic train between Ventimiglia and Tende. Travel along with us in this dispatch from the journey!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The horn of a \u201cCentoporte\u201d locomotive echoes through Ventimiglia station. This figure from another era\u2014a historic 1930s train model still in operation in several Italian regions\u2014is about to depart for Tende, in the heart of the Roya Valley. Since the start of summer, these carriages have replaced the \u201cTrain of Wonders\u201d connecting Nice to Tende\u2014a TER line currently under renovation until the end of 2025<\/a>\u2014to showcase the landscapes and towns nestled in the valley. This initiative is part of the European ALCOTRA Vermenagna-Roya III project, which is preparing the centenary of the Cuneo\u2013Ventimiglia\u2013Nice line in 2028. Beyond the scenic excursion, the project carries a broader cross-border ambition: to promote sustainable and family tourism in the Roya and Vermenagna valleys, which have been weakened by natural disasters in recent years.<\/p>\n\n

Tende tunnel reopens after twelve years<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Under a radiant sun<\/h3>\n\n

On a bright morning and with a light breeze promising pleasant temperatures for the day ahead, the carriages set in motion. First stop along the Roya River: the town of Breil-sur-Roya. Inside the carriages, polished wooden benches face each other in pairs, framed by dark floral-patterned curtains. Built on a stagecoach model, each compartment has a door with a window, allowing passengers to leave their seat without going through the corridor during station stops. This feature is what earned these trains the nickname \u201chundred doors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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\u00a9 Benjamin Godart – Monaco Tribune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Stop at Breil-sur-Roya<\/h3>\n\n

In blue uniform and cap, aviator-style glasses on his nose, the Fondazione FS conductor greets passengers settled comfortably. Patricia Balandier, a guide specialising in perched villages of the Alpes-Maritimes, follows him and announces a one-and-a-half-hour stop to explore the town of Breil-sur-Roya.<\/p>\n\n

Three options are offered to travelers: a guided tour of religious buildings, a visit to the Train of Wonders ecomuseum, or free exploration. A brass band welcomes the arrival of the train at the station. We choose the third option and meet Julie, a thirty-something here to explore the village and its vaulted-porch houses. After a generous snack\u2014a brioche croque-monsieur with brie and cooked ham\u2014and a warm welcome at Casa Roya as suggested by our impromptu guide, we return to the train, stomachs full.<\/p>\n\n

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Breil-sur-Roya \u00a9 Benjamin Godart – Monaco Tribune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Endless panoramas<\/h3>\n\n

With stops at Fontan-Saorge, Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, and La Brigue, the remainder of the journey is a timeless interlude. Windows open, breathtaking landscapes pass slowly at the train\u2019s cruising pace. Interspersed with numerous tunnels, the view expands to perched villages, bridges, castles, a viaduct, and rivers winding through the mountains.<\/p>\n\n

Tende and its heritage<\/h3>\n\n

The final destination, the village of Tende, lies at the gates of the Mercantour National Park and the Vall\u00e9e des Merveilles, just a few kilometres from the Italian Piedmont. A visit to the Mus\u00e9e des Merveilles\u2014free entry and very welcoming staff\u2014is an excellent introduction to discovering the town and its place in local history. Once Italian, then attached to France in 1947, Tende is an ideal destination for heritage enthusiasts wishing to extend their stay beyond a day, before the historic train takes the return trip to Ventimiglia.<\/p>\n\n

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The town of Tende is at the gates of Mercantour Park, with the clock tower in the distance \u00a9 Benjamin Godart \u2013 Monaco Tribune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

After consulting the Tende office, part of the Menton, Riviera & Merveilles Tourist Office, here is our selection of activities combining heritage and the outdoors:<\/p>\n\n

For architecture enthusiasts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n